R R

What Is Bronchial Thermoplasty?

Bronchial thermoplasty is a bronchoscopic procedure that delivers controlled thermal energy to the walls of selected airways in the lungs. The treatment is designed to reduce airway smooth muscle that can contribute to excessive narrowing during asthma attacks. In the United States, the approved system is intended for selected adults with severe persistent asthma that remains poorly controlled despite inhaled corticosteroid and long-acting beta-agonist therapy. Bronchial thermoplasty is an add-on treatment and does not replace routine asthma medicines or emergency care.

Link to This Resource Page

Provide a valuable resource to your clients or customers by linking to this resource page. Just place the following link on your website.

To display this...

What Is Bronchial Thermoplasty?

Bronchial thermoplasty is a bronchoscopic procedure that delivers controlled thermal energy to the walls of selected airways in the lungs. The treatment is designed to reduce airway smooth muscle that can contribute to excessive narrowing during asthma attacks. In the United States, the approved system is intended for selected adults with severe persistent asthma that remains poorly controlled despite inhaled corticosteroid and long-acting beta-agonist therapy. Bronchial thermoplasty is an add-on treatment and does not replace routine asthma medicines or emergency care.

read more about bronchial thermoplasty ...

Copy this HTML:

Copy HTML Copied!

Why Is Bronchial Thermoplasty Performed?

The procedure can be considered for carefully selected adults with severe asthma that remains inadequately controlled despite optimized medical treatment. Before treatment, specialists review the diagnosis, inhaler technique, adherence, triggers, other lung conditions, and eligibility for biologic therapies or other options. Bronchial thermoplasty is not used to treat an acute asthma attack. The expected goal is to reduce severe exacerbations and improve asthma control in appropriate patients rather than cure the disease.

How Is Bronchial Thermoplasty Performed?

Bronchial thermoplasty is performed during bronchoscopy with sedation or anesthesia according to the treatment center. A catheter is passed through the bronchoscope and delivers brief, controlled radiofrequency energy to accessible airway walls. Treatment is divided among different lung regions over three bronchoscopy sessions, typically separated by several weeks. Staging the sessions limits the amount of airway tissue treated at one time and allows recovery between procedures.

What Is Recovery Like After Bronchial Thermoplasty?

Patients are monitored after each session for wheezing, cough, chest discomfort, low oxygen levels, and worsening asthma symptoms. Respiratory symptoms commonly increase temporarily during the days after treatment before returning toward baseline. Some patients require additional bronchodilators, corticosteroids, emergency evaluation, or hospitalization for an asthma exacerbation. Follow-up continues after all treatment sessions because maintenance asthma therapy and routine specialist care remain necessary.

What Are the Risks and Complications?

The main short-term risk is worsening respiratory symptoms, including asthma exacerbation, wheezing, cough, chest pain, or shortness of breath. More serious complications can include hospitalization, significant airway narrowing, infection, bleeding, or complications related to bronchoscopy and sedation. The procedure is not suitable during an active respiratory infection or unstable asthma exacerbation. Careful patient selection and treatment at an experienced center are central to reducing risk.

Frequently Asked Questions About Bronchial Thermoplasty

How many bronchial thermoplasty sessions are needed?

The standard treatment course uses three separate bronchoscopy sessions that treat different regions of the lungs. The sessions are spaced apart to allow recovery.

Does bronchial thermoplasty cure asthma?

No. It can improve control in selected patients with severe asthma, but the underlying disease remains and maintenance treatment continues.

Is bronchial thermoplasty used during an asthma attack?

No. It is a planned treatment performed when asthma is sufficiently stable for bronchoscopy. Acute attacks require standard emergency or rescue treatment.

Can asthma symptoms worsen after bronchial thermoplasty?

Yes. Temporary increases in wheezing, cough, and other respiratory symptoms are common after a treatment session, and some exacerbations require hospital care.

References

Alair Bronchial Thermoplasty System, P080032. U.S. Food and Drug Administration. https://www.accessdata.fda.gov/scripts/cdrh/cfdocs/cfpma/pma.cfm?id=P080032. Date Accessed August 12, 2026.

Summary of Safety and Effectiveness Data: Alair Bronchial Thermoplasty System. U.S. Food and Drug Administration. https://www.accessdata.fda.gov/cdrh_docs/pdf8/p080032b.pdf. Date Accessed August 12, 2026.

Effectiveness and safety of bronchial thermoplasty in the treatment of severe asthma: a multicenter, randomized, double-blind, sham-controlled clinical trial. PubMed. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/19815809/. Date Accessed August 12, 2026.

Safety and effectiveness of bronchial thermoplasty after 10 years in patients with persistent asthma (BT10+): a follow-up of three randomised controlled trials. PubMed. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33524320/. Date Accessed August 12, 2026.

Bronchial Thermoplasty in Severe Asthma: Best Practice Recommendations from an Expert Panel. PubMed. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29669351/. Date Accessed August 12, 2026.